Baggage allowance exceptions apply for those customers travelling with approved infant items and personal mobility aids. All other baggage including musical instruments (not travelling in an extra booked seat) are weighed at check-in and charged according to their actual weight.

Virgin Australia’s fleet includes a number of different aircraft types, all of which have slightly different operational limitations that affect the weight and size of the baggage they can carry.

Aircraft Type

Maximum Length

A330, 737, Embraer

3.0 metres in length

ATR72

1.8 metres in length

A320

9.8 metres in length (depending on the flexibility of the item)

F100

6.0 metres in length (depending on the flexibility of the item)

Virgin Australia will make all reasonable efforts to transport oversized items on the same flight as their owners, but we cannot guarantee that this will be the case.

Fragile Items

Oversized and fragile items accepted on Virgin Australia include but are not be limited to the following:

Glassware and breakables

Odd shaped items

Some types of sporting equipment

Prams

Large boxes

Wheelchairs

Musical instrument (an extra seat can be purchased for guitar and cello)

Wedding dress

Note: Oversized baggage that is accepted on Virgin Australia flights may not be accepted on any interline or codeshare flights. The customer should contact any other applicable airline to discuss uplift of oversized baggage.

Due to restrictions in our aircraft hold space there is a limit on the amount of electric wheelchairs/mobility aids permitted per flight. The maximum amount and dimensions of electric wheelchairs/mobility aids are as below:

Wheelchair/Mobility Aids

A330, 737, Embraer

ATR 72

Number (per flight)

2

2

Height

84cm (33in)

84cm (33in)

Width

100cm (39in)

70cm (27in)

Length

125cm (49in)

90cm (35in)

Note:

All items must be properly packaged, so that they do not cause damage to our aircraft or guest baggage.

Sports Equipment

Each item of sporting equipment represents one piece of the checked baggage allowance, provided that it does not exceed the maximum size and weight limits.

Sporting equipment includes but is not restricted to:

Bikes

Golf clubs

Snow skis/snowboards

Surfboards

Cricket/tennis bags

Fishing rods

Note:

If you are travelling on a Go Plus fare with only sporting goods you will be required to purchase a checked baggage allowance for each separate piece you are carrying. We advise you to pre-purchase baggage online or by calling our Guest Contact Centre. Baggage allowances added/bought at the airport will be charged at a higher fee.

If you are travelling on a Go fare with only sporting goods you will be required to upgrade to a Go Plus to receive a checked baggage allowance. This can be done at the time of booking or by calling our Guest Contact Centre.

Travelling with a Firearm

Firearms are permitted as Checked Baggage. It is the responsibility of the Guest to ensure all necessary permits and licenses required for the destination are held prior to travel.

Conditions of carriage:

Firearm must be declared at Check-in

Firearm must be packed in a lockable case, and locked.

Firearm case must not be packed inside another bag/suitcase, and remain separate.

Firearm must be unloaded.

Ammunition may travel in the same case as long as the items are separated by a partition within the case. Note – Refer to Dangerous Goods for Ammunition restrictions

Firearm will be treated as a Restricted Item and may have different handling requirements at each airport.

Firearm will not be delivered on arrivals baggage belt at your destination, and you must provide the Restricted Item tag receipt to collect.

Travelling with a Bike

Bicycles including battery powered electric bikes will only be accepted as checked baggage if packaged in a hard or soft manufactured bike box. Bike boxes may be purchased at the airport check-in counter. Before bicycles can be accepted for uplift, they must be packaged as follows:

Generally, the following applies to disassemble a bike:

Turn handle bars sideways, and secure to frame. It may be necessary to remove the front wheel

Remove pedals

Lower or remove seat post

Remove any accessories

Deflate bicycle tyres

When packing a bike, remember to:

Place any loose accessories such as pedals or water bottles into a bag then place in the box. Ensure that only bike parts are packed in the box.

Seal the box, and label it with your name, and contact phone number.

Ensure no part of the bike is protruding out of the box.

Additional requirements for a battery powered electric bike:

The lithium battery must not exceed 160Wh (watt-hours). Batteries over 160Wh are not permitted

Note: If a bike is not packed according to Virgin Australia's requirements, or is not checked in prior to one hour before departure, we will not be able to accept the bike for travel.

We recommend that guests pre-purchase a box and pack their bike at least 24 hours prior to departure to ensure it is ready on time. Bike boxes can be purchased the airport for $25.00.

Travelling with a Surfboard

Surfboards may only be accepted onboard if packaged in a protective covering, with padded protection around the fin area. Virgin Australia recommends surfboard fins be removed where possible and placed in an enclosed compartment.

Travelling with Skis or a Snowboard

Snow skis and snowboards may only be accepted onboard as checked baggage if packaged in a protective skis/snowboard bag.

Travelling with a fishing rod

Fishing rods must be protected in a PVC cylinder, with screw ends obtained from a local fishing store, or in PVC plumbing or electrical tubing. Fishing Rods must not be strapped to suitcases or other baggage.

Musical Instruments

Guests may take small musical instruments onboard as carry-on baggage provided that each instrument does not exceed dimensions of 85cm x 34cm x 23cm (total linear dimensions 142cm). As an example only, many violins fit within these dimensions, while most guitars do not.

An instrument replaces one of the guest’s pieces of carry-on baggage (equivalent to a piece with total linear dimensions of 105cm), and the weight counts toward the guest’s 7kg total carry-on allowance.

Guests are asked to measure their musical instrument before arriving at the airport. It is recommended that guests board their aircraft promptly in order to stow their instrument in an overhead locker.

Larger musical instruments (exceeding dimensions of 85cm x 34cm x 23cm) are not allocated an additional baggage allowance and are managed as follows:

A musical instrument is considered to be a piece of baggage for the purposes of our baggage policy.

Any musical instrument that weighs between 23kg and 32kg is charged as overweight baggage. If it exceeds the guests included baggage allowance. Baggage allowances can be found under Checked Baggage

Non-standard Items

Non-standard baggage items that are not infant items are considered as part of a guest’s piece allowance.

Wheelchairs/mobility aids are carried free of charge when required for personal use by a guest who is travelling.

Note: The only item that can occupy a seat (apart from a guest) is a cello. If you are travelling with a cello please call our Guest Contact Centre to book an extra seat.

Hunting trophies/shark fins

Virgin Australia does not support the transportation of hunting trophies, endangered species or shark fins and therefore, does not transport these items.

Human remains

Cremated remains (human and animal) in the form of ashes may be stored in carry-on or checked baggage but must be shipped in funeral urns which are effectively cushioned against breakage by suitable packaging. The ashes must be contained in a sealed container (urn) of such construction that there can be no risk of accidental spillage.

A funeral urn carried in the cabin as carry-on baggage by a guest must conform to the following conditions before being accepted:

The ashes must be contained in a sealed container (funeral urn) of such construction that there can be no risk of accidental spillage.

The guest must have a letter from a funeral director or crematorium identifying the contents as human remains.

The urn must pass through security screening with the guest.

Guests are not required to open the urn at security screen, but if the urn is stored in another bag the outer bag has to be opened to view the actual container the ashes are in.

The urn is wholly contained inside a suitable carry-on bag which conforms to carry-on baggage size and weight limits. The bag and the urn are to remain closed during flight.

If a customer enquires about transporting a coffin, they are required to do so via Freight.